Universal Ups Josh Goldstine To President Of Marketing

UNIVERSAL CITY, CA, August 3, 2011—Tenured marketing executive Josh Goldstine has officially joined Universal Pictures as the studio’s President of Marketing, it was announced today. In this role, Goldstine will oversee and orchestrate all aspects of Universal’s domestic feature film marketing activities including creative advertising, media, publicity, promotion, digital marketing, home entertainment marketing and administration. He will report to Universal Pictures’ Chairman, Adam Fogelson, and work closely with its Co-President of Marketing, Michael Moses. Goldstine fills the position that was formerly held by Eddie Egan, who has transitioned to President of Marketing, Illumination Entertainment, and Executive Vice President, Universal Pictures.

“Josh has repeatedly and consistently proven himself a top advertising and marketing executive, and we are fully confident his leadership will continue to build upon this division’s recent successes with Hop, Fast Five and Bridesmaids,” said Fogelson and Universal Co-Chairman, Donna Langley, in a joint statement.

“This is an exciting time to join Universal and be able to work with an amazing team on a tremendous slate,” Goldstine stated. “With the evolving nature of the industry and the challenges we face as marketers, I look forward to leading this group as we take advantage of the opportunities that lie ahead. Together, we will capitalize on advances in technology and the changing media landscape to enhance the way we communicate about and promote films.”

Prior to joining Universal, Goldstine spent two decades with Sony Pictures, where he held a variety of marketing positions including his most recent role as Senior Executive Vice President, Creative Advertising, since 2010. Goldstine began his career at Columbia Pictures in 1991 as executive assistant to the President of Marketing and worked his way up the ranks holding senior positions in both Creative Advertising and Marketing guiding the campaigns of some of Sony’s most successful films.

During his years at Sony, Goldstine spearheaded a number of marketing campaigns for films including the Academy Award®-winning The Social Network, The Karate Kid and Battle: Los Angeles, as well as the phenomenally successful Spider-Man franchise and eight pictures with Will Smith.

Goldstine has also personally overseen the creative team responsible for developing trailers, posters, television ads and other marketing materials that support the theatrical release of films from Columbia Pictures, Revolutions Studios and Sony Pictures Animation. Since 2002, Goldstine and his colleagues have created marketing materials for more than 50 No. 1 films.

Among his other credits, Goldstine oversaw the creative team that launched such titles as Casino Royale, The Da Vinci Code, Something’s Gotta Give, Anger Management, Panic Room, xXx, Men in Black, Men in Black II, Mr. Deeds, S.W.A.T., 50 First Dates, Daddy Day Care, Black Hawk Down, Bad Boys II, Air Force One, Jerry Maguire and As Good As It Gets, among many others.

Goldstine has received dozens of advertising honors including numerous Key Art awards, gold medals from the New York and London Advertising Festivals. He is a 1990 graduate of Harvard University.

22 Comments

Jack • on Aug 3, 2011 10:28 am

When is NBCUniversal going to fire Donna Langley and Adam Fogelson for approving the disasters Battleship and Cowboys & Aliens?

AlanS • on Aug 3, 2011 10:28 am

Since publicity will be among Mr. Goldstine’s responsibilities, he should be aware of how soured and contentious Universal’s relationship with many entertainment journalists (junket press) has become over the past 2-3 years. From entirely eliminating my medium (radio) to drastically reducing access for print and local TV, Univ has seemed to go out of its way to ensure that its feature film releases get minimal coverage. There are many of us who would welcome a change in attitude.

yeah • on Aug 3, 2011 10:28 am

Josh is the real deal… they are lucky to have him.

Been there • on Aug 3, 2011 10:28 am

Let’s not forget that on the one vacation he tookRemember how Josh ma=invented a critic that did not exist for several Sony films and was “suspended” for a month. His Director of Advertising took the fall. That’s Josh. Talented, for sure. Unscrupulous for sure, on many levels. He asks vendors to cut prices after work is finished, lies to vendors, and is condescending to the people who work for him.

Let’s not forget that the one vacation he took in years was the very same time that his boss was “fired”. Josh took over on his return in a takeover orchestrated by Jeff Blake. Very coincidental.

He has only had one job at one studio, and has always been protected
by either Jeff Blake or Amy Pascal. He achieves his results by continually having the agencies revise and revise. Eventually if you seach though every straw in the haystack, you will find the needle at great cost. But isn’t real talent being able to see the creative solution early on?

Then there is the long list of people he had fired who dared to challenge him or tell the truth. These people have gone on to great success, which only drained the studio of it’s in house talent. Of, course, he has never worked on the vendor side and come up with creative concepts through his own skills as a write and producer.

What Universal needs is someone fressh and with stronger experiecne in the areas of Marketing other than Creative ADvertising.

No One of Consequence • on Aug 3, 2011 10:28 am

First of all, nice coherent post…

Yes, that David Manning scandal will follow Josh forever, but if you recall, several other studios quietly admitted they had done similar things for years. His team just got called out and caught in a big way.

Also, I seriously doubt Josh was the trigger man, diabolically ordering innocent underlings to break the rules. It probably happened with his knowledge, but likely not on his specific instruction. He hardly threw his Director under the bus. They were both suspended without pay and were “publicly” admonished.

He’s a class act. Sounds a bit like you’re the one with the grudge

Someone of Consequence • on Aug 3, 2011 10:28 am

How long do you plan to hold on to the fabricated critic? I have much sadness for you and your inability to move on from a 10-year-old occurrence. Whether you feel he burned you personally or you’re an outsider looking in, let your malice go. Be free. The feeling will shock and amaze you.

You’re clearly unaware of what makes successful creative advertising. Let me fill you in. Talent doesn’t reside in seeing the creative solution early on. Talent is successfully adjusting a campaign, and often with no time to spare, so that it sufficiently enthuses necessary demographics without losing the interest of those you’ve already secured.

Regarding Josh “draining the studio of its in-house talent”, you do realize that sometimes people are let go? Chances are high that regardless of the boss, the former employee won’t have a pretty story to tell.

Oh, and I beg you, please learn to use a keyboard. You’ve proven to us all that you don’t let go of the past, but they do have classes for that these days.

a not so sour vendor • on Aug 3, 2011 10:28 am

sounds like a sour vendor to me…to answer you NO, the real talent isn’t being able to see creative solutions “early on” – the real talent is being able to see solutions whenever they come your way. and at the end of the day, it’s the process – how do you know it’s the best solution if you haven’t taken all the time available to you to explore every possible solution?

and if the studio exec wants to keep revising until the last minute, i’m loving it, because you better believe i’m going to push you to get paid for that work – anyone with half a brain knows that the money is in the “revisions” and not in the first round so, as a sour vendor, you should be pleased that he works the project to the end.

as far as negotiating budgets after the fact, yeah it sucks and is ass backwards but please, let’s get real – EVERY SINGLE STUDIO and executive does that, not just this one. it’s common practice.

as for the quotes thing – seriously, give it up already.

oh and by the way, it’s good to know that there’s someone out there (you) that doesn’t ever tell a lie, congrats on that!!

Darth Vendor • on Aug 3, 2011 10:28 am

We can only hope that the operation to have your lips surgically removed from that wonder weenie’s ass, is a rousing success…

Jiminy Kritic • on Aug 3, 2011 10:28 am

Putz.

Ewwwww • on Aug 3, 2011 10:28 am

This reminds me…I need to read THE PETER PRINCIPLE again!

Jack the Ripper • on Aug 3, 2011 10:28 am

What a shmohawk

Anonymous • on Aug 3, 2011 10:28 am

Without a shadow of a doubt, Goldstein threw Matt Cramer under the bus. Then he backed up the bus and ran him over – repeatedly. While Matt may have coined the idea, without a shadow of a doubt, Josh was involved. It cost Matt his job. And it continues to haunt Matt while Josh gets protected and promoted. He’s arrogant and not creative. And yes, he’s the cousin or nephew of someone who once ran Sony. Surprised? Matthew is really talented and very, very smart. Too bad Josh has never thrown him a life-line.

Anonymous • on Aug 3, 2011 10:28 am

I am not a vendor. I do not have a grudge. None of this affected me, I am only speaking about what I know.

He was the trigger man. He invented the guy to help promote one of his films, then used it two or three more times when he got away with it. No superior urged him to do it. He was brash enought and ego centric enough to demand that every little word in a quote be exactly as he demanded. The crime is he did not admit his wrong and let underlings with no power to take the fall. Josh did not lose his jobh when the scandal reolved. And he used veiled threats to coorse his underlings to do his bidding. People who served Josh well with families to support. An d when these people took jobs on the agency side, Josh gave them the cold shoulder.

Directors who shoot takes into the three digits are not respected. Sure the vendors love the frame F—–cking, and ‘Sour Note” is no doubt among them. Talent, experience, marketing instincts, research, etc can all help point the way to a creative solution. One does not need to have to see 50 differebnt end shots of a trailer to know if the spot works. Creativity is being able to see the order with in the chaos..to be able to have many ideas pop up in a fertile mind. NOT having to try every idea under the sun becasue you have no real idea or confidence. And to be able to give creative directions rather than. It doesn’t work..i don’t like it.”

Yes, it is true that many studios ask for discounts after the fact. It is an unfortunate practice./ It stems for Creative overspending that comes from waste and not being able to cut through the chaff early on. Josh justifiesw this by promosing other jobs, which he then does not award. Everyone tells a little fib in order to save hurt feels, but Josh boldface lies to get himself out of jams or to avoid a confrontation. The truth is always a better path. Have the guts to tell a vendor why they lost a job, or what they need to do or not do.

Been there

Sony Vet • on Aug 3, 2011 10:28 am

I know for a fact Josh had absolutely nothing to do with at least five of those titles. I’m sure that news will come to a shock to Dana Precious too.

Look, Josh was hired right out of college because his father was the then President of Marketing’s shrink. He’s been well protected and failed upwards ever since.

Mr. Brown Nose • on Aug 3, 2011 10:28 am

Josh is THE most talented guy in movie advertising. His ideas are like smooth caramel kisses that envelop you like a beautiful virgin legs. Every word from his mouth floats like a butterfly made of lilacs. There really is nothing he can’t do.

If you don’t believe me, just ask him.

IDIOT JOSH • on Aug 3, 2011 10:28 am

well knowing this boob and his contentious lying ways,
hes a schmuger disciple that NEVER blossomed
ashame for UNI but just a matter of time before he, maria and the rest will be gone

anyone see cowboys and aliens…ROTFL…so whos getting axed?

joshie-pooh about a new critic to dream up? “rotten josh.com”

Anonymous • on Aug 3, 2011 10:28 am

When is everyone going to wake up and see the big difference between crating a concept ad campaign like “GOT MILK” and having a vendor use a still from a film, then present it photoshopped into another scene, then present 25 comps of the same so called idea in 25 different colors. Or trying 10 different jokes on the end of the same TV spot..and the spot is all an editorial juggling of the same tried and true scenes that tested well with an audience. Yes, it works becasue one is selling a story that exists on film, rather than a product. But come on, it’s not a creative gift from the gods.

Anonymous • on Aug 3, 2011 10:28 am

heyyyy jealousy!

Anonymous • on Aug 3, 2011 10:28 am

Jealous of what? Merely stating a fact. I am not even in the biz! Only a supllier on ther perifery. Maybe you are a kiss ass vendor

Bitter Much? • on Aug 3, 2011 10:28 am

Wow, seriously people? The jealousy could hardly be more transparent. Do you really think Sony would have kept Goldstine for 20 years, probably paying him 7 figures annually for 10+ of those years, all because his dad was the shrink for a guy who hasn’t been at Sony for 15 years? Do you really think Universal would put him in charge of domestic marketing because the vendors who do his work are so amazing? Because for some reason that obviously cannot have anything to do with Goldstine in any way, shape, or form, the vendors whose hard work Goldstine gets all the credit for generally do a better job than when other execs are taking the credit for their hard work.

You’re like teenage girls unconvincingly trying to tell their friend that she’s better off now that the prom king dumped her. (Unless you are the vendors and you’re saying all this, then you are the dumped girl and have no friends and telling yourself this BS in a failed attempt to feel better about yourselves.) If creative advertising is as simple as cracking the whip on the unappreciated vendors, why are creative execs paid so much? If it really is that easy, why don’t studios just hire a drill sergeant? It’d save them a lot of money, and judging by all the whining about shortchanged vendors, you definitely think they are penny pinchers.

Or maybe, just maybe, there is something to be said for being able to determine which work among dozens or hundreds of options is most likely to maximize box office success.

Do you take yourself seriously? • on Aug 3, 2011 10:28 am

How’s living in the past working out for you? So the kid was caught up in that “critic thing”a few years ago, as someone else said – several other studios admitted similar tactics. Are you readying the torches and pitchforks for them [still]?
The past is a bitter lonely place to live. If your only problem with Goldstine is that, let me ask you “how would you like to be judge for the entirety of your career on one mistake”? Green eyes look good on some – but you should consider silencing the monster…Therapy is a good thing – you may want to try it. This is Hollywood we are talking about some movies are hits & some are FAR from it. Is that the advertising/marketing departments fault? No.

Disgusted • on Aug 3, 2011 10:28 am

Oh come on man – is Josh any more or less talented than anyone in the trailer biz?